A greener garden could mean less sewage entering our rivers

We constantly hear news stories about sewage pollution in our rivers. It’s something that disgusts us all and makes us think, “Something has to be done.”

Yes, water companies need to invest in their sewage infrastructure for one! I completely agree, but do you know that if we all took steps to manage the water where it falls – at our own properties – we could significantly reduce the amount of sewage spills into the river?  Let me explain…

Rainfall is increasing; there’s no doubt about that. As our world heats up, the atmosphere holds more moisture, clouds move slower and therefore storms are becoming more intense. We often hear reports that ‘a month’s rain fell in a matter of hours’.  This overwhelms our drainage system, which was not built for today’s climate or indeed the number of houses we now have feeding into it.  In fact, generally speaking, our drainage system was designed to take away both rain and sewage in one pipe. 

The threat that climate change brings promises us that things will get worse. Right now, the climate we are experiencing is the least extreme it will be: rainfall is becoming more intense and associated surface water flooding is increasing. I believe, without realising it, we are all unwittingly contributing to the problem. 

Over the years, with an increased need for off-road parking spaces, many of us have paved over our front gardens. In London alone, the equivalent of around 5,200 football pitches has been paved over so, when that rain falls, it hits the ground running, overwhelms the drains, increases  the chances of flooding, and sends sewage overflow into our rivers. 

One of my mantras has been that we should work with nature and not against it. So, what can we do at our homes to reduce the amount of water we send to the drainage system? 

Here are a few ideas to that can really help make a difference: 

• Install a water butt to capture rain from your roof. Slimline versions are available if you are short on space. If you think heavy rain is forecasted, water your garden to make space in the butt, so you can then capture the rain. There are even sophisticated versions available now that can sense when rain is coming and do that for you.
• Create a ‘rain planter’ into which you can divert the rainwater from your roof downpipe. It is a job well within the capability of many DIY enthusiasts.
• Install your own ‘rain garden’. These shallow landscaped areas can be planted with water-loving shrubs and plants, which help to absorb water instead of it rushing across hard surfaces. You can even direct water from your rooftop into rain gardens and your plants prefer it to tap water! 
• Instead of hard paving on your drive, use permeable paving or a plastic ‘honeycomb system’ – a system of plastic grids – that you can either fill with soil and then plant grass seed or fill with gravel. The honeycomb structure contains the gravel and keeps it in place and is robust enough for a car to be parked on. 
• It is possible to plant a hedge to divide you from the street. This would encourage wildlife and screen of pollutants from the road. If you really need a fence, grow roses or an evergreen climber (such as Jasmine) up it.

Every drop of rain that we can slow down, store or soak into the ground at home is one less drop rushing into an already overloaded drainage system. On their own, these actions may seem small but together they can play a role in reducing flood risk while also helping our rivers.

If you’re looking for inspiration, Flood Re won a gold medal at the Chelsea Flower Show for creating the most beautiful rain garden, in a very small space. It showed that even if you have a tiny garden, you can make a difference too! https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show/gardens/2026/flood-re. 

For more information visit www.floodmary.com 

Copyright: Mary Long-Dhonau, July 2026